In this work, free-standing and flexible polymer-ceramic nanocomposite films were fabricated by a spin-coating process using poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) P(VDF-HFP) as matrix and ...BaTiO3 (BTO) nanoparticles as filler. The relationships between the properties and compositions were systematically investigated. It is experimentally found that the crystallinity and the size of crystals of the P(VDF-HFP) matrix decreases with increasing BTO content. The dielectric responses of the polymer used as matrix were determined by four dielectric processes. Both the temperature and frequency dependences of the dielectric responses obtained in the composite films are mainly determined by the polymer matrix, and the influences of the ceramic filler on the four dielectric processes of the polymer matrix were discussed.
•Invention of metal MBE for magnetic superlattices in pioneering spintronics research.•A shutter-less method in growing composition-gradient DBRs with reduced resistance.•Combined oxide/semiconductor ...MBE for first Fermi level unpinning in GaAs MOS.•Integrating MBE/ALD/analysis via UHV for high-performance MOS and topological matters.•Understanding (In)GaAs surfaces and interfaces with high-κ and metal by in-situ SRPES.
Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) invented for the growth of compound semiconductors in the 70’s has been successfully extended to the advanced growth of metals, oxides, oxide/semiconductor interfaces and emergent topological materials by our endeavor in the past three and half decades. In the 80’s, Kwo et al. have invented metal MBE and oxide MBE methods in pioneering spintronics and high-temperature superconducting oxide films. In driving compound semiconductors for optoelectronics, Hong et al. have produced distributed Bragg reflectors with a continuously graded composition between each constituent without shutter operation, and greatly reduced the electrical resistance; this simple method has made easy manufacture of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. In the 90’s, combining (In)GaAs and oxide MBE chambers via ultra-high vacuum, Hong et al. were the first to unpin the Fermi level in oxide/GaAs, which led to the first demonstration of inversion-channel (In)GaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). Integrating MBE, atomic layer deposition (ALD), and many other functions in ultra-high vacuum, advances have been made in pushing ultimate complementary MOS (CMOS) of record-high device performances and beyond in growing emergent topological materials for spintronics. Our novel method in preserving as-grown (In)GaAs surfaces and interfaces with high-κ oxides and metals enables employing in-situ synchrotron radiation photoemission to study electronic structures in an atomic scale.
Aims. We aim to characterize the circular depressions of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and investigate whether such surface morphology of a comet nucleus is related to the cumulative sublimation ...effect since becoming a Jupiter family comet (JFC). Methods. The images from the Rosetta/OSIRIS science camera experiment are used to construct size frequency distributions of the circular depression structures on comet 67P and they are compared with those of the JFCs 81P/Wild 2, 9P/Tempel 1, and 103P/Hartley 2. The orbital evolutionary histories of these comets over the past 100 000 yr are analyzed statistically and compared with each other. Results. The global distribution of the circular depressions over the surface of 67P is charted and classified. Descriptions are given to the characteristics and cumulative size frequency distribution of the identified features. Orbital statistics of the JFCs visited by spacecraft are derived. Conclusions. The size frequency distribution of the circular depressions is found to have a similar power law distribution to those of 9P/Tempel 1 and 81P/Wild 2. This might imply that they could have been generated by the same process. Orbital integration calculation shows that the surface erosion histories of 81P/Wild 2, and 9P/Tempel 1 could be shorter than those of 67P, 103 P/Hartley 2 and 19P/Borrelly. From this point of view, the circular depressions could be dated back to the pre-JFC phase or the transneptunian phase of these comets. The north-south asymmetry in the distribution of the circular depressions could be associated with the heterogeneous structure of the nucleus of comet 67P and/or the solar insolation history.
Subdural hematoma (SDH) is associated with a high mortality rate. The risk of SDH in cirrhotic patients has not been well studied.
The aim of the study was to examine the risk of SDH in cirrhotic ...patients.
A retrospective study from a universal insurance claims database of Taiwan.
A cohort of 9455 liver cirrhotic patients from 2000 to 2011 and an age-and sex-matched control cohort of 35992 subjects without cirrhosis were identified. The severity of liver cirrhosis was classified into uncomplicated and complicated according to presence of complications or not. The incidence and hazard ratio of SDH were measured by the end of 2011.
The mean follow-up years were 4.34 ± 3.45 years in the cirrhosis cohort and 6.36 ± 3.28 years in the non-cirrhosis cohort. The incidence of SDH was 2.73-fold higher in the cirrhosis cohort than in the control cohort (29.3 vs. 10.9 per 10 000 person-years), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.73 (95% CI = 2.19-3.42), 2.42 (95% CI = 1.89-3.08), and 5.07 (95% CI = 3.38-7.60) in the all liver cirrhosis, the uncomplicated liver cirrhosis, and the complicated liver cirrhosis patients compared to the control cohort. The adjusted hazard ratios were 2.65 (95% CI = 2.06-3.41) for traumatic SDH and 3.09 (95% CI 1.91-5.02) for non-traumatic SDH in liver cirrhosis patients, compared to the controls.
This study demonstrates that patients with cirrhosis are at higher risk of both traumatic and non-traumatic SDH than individuals without cirrhosis. The risk increases further in patients with complicated liver cirrhosis.
Portal hyperperfusion in a small‐size liver graft is one cause of posttransplant graft dysfunction. We retrospectively analyzed the potential risk factors predicting the development of portal ...hyperperfusion in 43 adult living donor liver transplantation recipients. The following were evaluated: age, body weight, native liver disease, spleen size, graft size, graft‐to‐recipient weight ratio (GRWR), total portal flow, recipient portal venous flow per 100 g graft weight (RPVF), graft‐to‐recipient spleen size ratio (GRSSR) and portosystemic shunting. Spleen size was directly proportional to the total portal flow (p = 0.001) and RPVF (p = 0.014). Graft hyperperfusion (RPVF flow >250 mL/min/100 g graft) was seen in eight recipients. If the GRSSR was <0.6, 5 of 11 cases were found to have graft hyperperfusion (p = 0.017). The presence of portosystemic shunting was significant in decreasing excessive RPVF (p = 0.059). A decrease in portal flow in the hyperperfused grafts was achieved by intraoperative splenic artery ligation or splenectomy. Spleen size is a major factor contributing to portal flow after transplant. The GRSSR is associated with posttransplant graft hyperperfusion at a ratio of <0.6.
Spleen size is a major factor contributing to portal flow after transplant, and may predict graft hyperperfusion in live donor liver transplantation.
Lymph nodes (LNs) are always embedded in the metabolically-active white adipose tissue (WAT), whereas their functional relationship remains obscure. Here, we identify fibroblastic reticular cells ...(FRCs) in inguinal LNs (iLNs) as a major source of IL-33 in mediating cold-induced beiging and thermogenesis of subcutaneous WAT (scWAT). Depletion of iLNs in male mice results in defective cold-induced beiging of scWAT. Mechanistically, cold-enhanced sympathetic outflow to iLNs activates β1- and β2-adrenergic receptor (AR) signaling in FRCs to facilitate IL-33 release into iLN-surrounding scWAT, where IL-33 activates type 2 immune response to potentiate biogenesis of beige adipocytes. Cold-induced beiging of scWAT is abrogated by selective ablation of IL-33 or β1- and β2-AR in FRCs, or sympathetic denervation of iLNs, whereas replenishment of IL-33 reverses the impaired cold-induced beiging in iLN-deficient mice. Taken together, our study uncovers an unexpected role of FRCs in iLNs in mediating neuro-immune interaction to maintain energy homeostasis.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignancy linked to asbestos exposure. On a genomic level, MPM is characterized by frequent chromosomal deletions of tumor suppressors, ...including microRNAs. MiR-137 plays a tumor suppressor role in other cancers, so the aim of this study was to characterize it and its target Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) in MPM.
Expression, methylation, and copy number status of miR-137 and its host gene MIR137HG were assessed by polymerase chain reaction. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed a direct interaction between miR-137 and Y-box binding protein 1 gene (YBX1). Cells were transfected with a miR-137 inhibitor, miR-137 mimic, and/or YBX1 small interfering RNA, and growth, colony formation, migration and invasion assays were conducted.
MiR-137 expression varied among MPM cell lines and tissue specimens, which was associated with copy number variation and promoter hypermethylation. High miR-137 expression was linked to poor patient survival. The miR-137 inhibitor did not affect target levels or growth, but interestingly, it increased miR-137 levels by means of mimic transfection suppressed growth, migration, and invasion, which was linked to direct YBX1 downregulation. YBX1 was overexpressed in MPM cell lines and inversely correlated with miR-137. RNA interference–mediated YBX1 knockdown significantly reduced cell growth, migration, and invasion.
MiR-137 can exhibit a tumor-suppressive function in MPM by targeting YBX1. YBX1 knockdown significantly reduces tumor growth, migration, and invasion of MPM cells. Therefore, YBX1 represents a potential target for novel MPM treatment strategies.
Subdural hematoma in diabetic patients Wang, I.-K.; Chen, H.-J.; Cheng, Y.-K. ...
European journal of neurology,
January 2015, Letnik:
22, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Background and purpose
Subdural hematoma (SDH) is associated with a high mortality rate. However, the risk of SDH in diabetic patients has not been well studied. The aim of the study was to examine ...the risk of SDH in incident diabetic patients.
Methods
From a universal insurance claims database of Taiwan, a cohort of 28 045 incident diabetic patients from 2000 to 2005 and a control cohort of 56 090 subjects without diabetes were identified. The incidence and hazard ratio of SDH were measured by the end of 2010.
Results
The mean follow‐up years were 7.24 years in the diabetes cohort and 7.44 years in the non‐diabetes cohort. The incidence of SDH was 1.57‐fold higher in the diabetes cohort than in the non‐diabetes cohort (2.04 vs. 1.30 per 1000 person‐years), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.63 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–1.85. The stratified data showed that adjusted hazard ratios were 1.51 (95% CI 1.28–1.77) for traumatic SDH and 1.89 (95% CI 1.52–2.36) for non‐traumatic SDH. The 30‐day mortality rate for those who developed SDH in the diabetes cohort was 8.94%.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that incident diabetic patients are at higher risk of SDH than individuals without diabetes. Proper intervention for diabetic patients is necessary for preventing the devastating disorder.
Abstract Females frequently perform better in empathy, interpersonal sensitivity, and emotional recognition than do males. The mirror-neuron system has been proposed to play an important role in ...social cognition. It remains to be clarified, however, whether the neuroanatomy underlying the human mirror neuron system exhibits sex differences. With the use of voxel-based morphometry analysis, a whole-brain unbiased technique to characterize regional cerebral volume differences in structural magnetic resonance images, concurrent with the dispositional empathy measures, we demonstrate that young adult females ( n =25) had significantly larger gray matter volume in the pars opercularis and inferior parietal lobule than matched males ( n =25) participants. Moreover, higher self-report scores in the emotional empathic disposition was tightly coupled with larger gray matter volume of the pars opercularis across all female and male participants ( P =0.002). These results indicate that the existence of neuroanatomical sex differences in the human mirror-neuron system. They also suggest that the network of the human mirror-neuron system is strongly linked to empathy competence.
Influence of the coupling agent on microstructure and dielectric properties of ceramic–polymer composites is systematically studied using CaCu3Ti4O
1
2
(CCTO) as the filler, ...trichloro-(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)-silane (Cl3-silane) as coupling agent, and P(VDF-CTFE) 88/12
mol.% copolymer as the matrix. It is demonstrated that Cl3-silane molecules can be attached onto CCTO surface using a simple process. The experimental results show that coating CCTO with Cl3-silane can improve the microstructure uniformity of the composites due to the good wettability between Cl3-silane and P(VDF-CTFE), which also significantly improves the electric breakdown field of the composites. It is found that the composites using CCTO coated with 1.0
wt.% Cl3-silane exhibit a higher dielectric constant with a higher electric breakdown field. For the composites with 15
vol.% CCTO that is coated with 1.0
wt.% Cl3-silane, an electric breakdown field of more than 240
MV/m is obtained with an energy density of more than 4.5
J/cm3. It is also experimentally found that the dielectric constant can be used to easily identify the optimized content of coupling agent.
PDF
